CARACAS — On Sunday, six Venezuelan political opponents, who have taken refuge at the Argentine embassy in Caracas for several months, reported that local police and intelligence officials had been stationed outside the embassy for several hours.
This development has led the U.S. government to label it as a significant breach of international law, while Argentina’s Foreign Ministry characterized the situation as harassment.
The majority of these opponents are affiliated with the Vente Venezuela party, which is headed by former legislator María Corina Machado. They have condemned what they describe as “a new siege by masked officials,” which allegedly began Saturday night and continued into Sunday.
This event unfolded shortly after Machado had urged a large-scale mobilization set for December 1, prompting accusations from Venezuela’s interior minister that she is part of a scheme to destabilize President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
In a statement, Vente Venezuela indicated that the diplomatic compound lacks electricity and is encircled by “regime vehicles” obstructing local traffic. They also reported interference with communication signals.
Argentina’s Foreign Ministry expressed concerns in a statement issued late Saturday, asserting that the deployment of armed forces and street closures nearby represent a threat to public safety. They called on the international community to denounce this act, a plea that received support from the United States.
On Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela expressed its condemnation of the harassment against those seeking asylum through a post on X, stating: “The deployment of armed forces and blockades seriously violate international law.” They demanded that the Venezuelan regime honor its international commitments, cease the intimidation tactics, and ensure the safe passage of those seeking asylum.
Diplomatic ties between Venezuela and Argentina have been severed since 2019. The opposition figures entered the embassy in March following the issuance of arrest warrants by the Venezuelan Attorney General’s Office, which accused them of inciting violence to undermine the government.
In August, Brazil responded positively to a request from Argentina to provide security for its embassy after the Venezuelan government expelled Argentine diplomats due to controversial remarks made by President Javier Milei, who expressed his refusal to acknowledge what he called “another fraud” in Venezuela following disputed elections in July.
The situation escalated in September when Venezuela revoked Brazil’s permission to protect the embassy, claiming to have evidence suggesting the embassy was being used for plotting terrorist activities and assassination efforts. Both Brazil and Argentina have dismissed these accusations.